Extra threads from kits.

[lag28wa]

What does everyone do with their extra threads from kits? Most kits don't say whether they give you DMC or Anchor floss or just some variation of their own. Of course their are numbers in the patterns and I think a lot of them correspond to DMC.

So is the best thing to do is to use like a color sample card and then put the significant amounts on bobbins to use for another project? This is always what my mom did, but of course there were some that she had to just go with the "best option" for as no matter what there were subtle variations. Oh and she only used a DMC chart, she might have had more success if she used an Anchor chart also, but she's simplistic, I don't think she wanted to bother that much with it.

I hate to waste any threads, and it builds my stash in the mean time, but on the other hand if the colors aren't very very close or exactly matched it can show in the stitched work right?

[BecomingMe]

I believe this is one way a stash becomes born. Yes, I do the same thing...so when you get a project, like some of the free ones from like say, InK Circles, you can use some of them. Dimensions kits "say" that they have their colours specially dyed for them, but I've found that they work...Some slight variations can work for some projects, others less so.

[Lessa54]

I keep my extra threads. I find it depends on the kit as to whether they say what colours they are or not. For example I've done DMC and Anchor kits which give their numbers for the colours, so they're easy to sort. Some kits don't say. Lanarte, for example, doesn't say but they use DMC thread (info buried quite deep on their website).

For those that don't say you could either get the colour charts and see if you can match them. Alternatively, I'd use them for small projects where the left over threads will work without needing extra thread to match them.

[ali-cat]

Any unknown threads, either from kits or which have some how become detatched from their bobbins, I keep in a seperate box and use them for small projects, when I just need to just pick 'a red' or 'a blue', for example.

I hate to waste any threads - so I hope that they will all be used at some stage!!

[kell]

I keep them on their project cards if the DMC/Anchor number is not given or the threads are unknown. If I know the DMC/Anchor number, they get put on the cards I have set up for those threads - in theory! In reality, I haven't yet set up the Anchor and DMC cards, but I will! I plan to use them for small projects where only a small amount of any given colour is needed, such as for cards etc.

[pamelam]

I keep the left over threads on the project card that I've labeled with the color name. I mostly buy Dimensions kits, and their floss seems very much the same as DMC.

[Nachstenliebe]

I can't bear to throw them out. I use them in smaller projects, or to sew things together.
Faith

[Rose]

I tend to save mine on homemade bobbins and when I have a nice stash of them (sometimes it takes over a year) I then take them into the local schools to see if any one can use them for class projects if they say no then I take them to the Assited Living Home and give them to the project director so they have some stuff to work with. I also usually take some 11 ct aida and a few 24 needles so they can start right off with some stitching.

[*barb*]

i keep them as well, in colour groups on cards, and sometimes use them for small projects but kind of get lazy sometimes and end up using my DMC threads as they are the only ones i use so i convert any anchor or dimensions patterns to DMC.

[vanessanjf]

I keep all mine in individual bags which I number up. I only use DMC really but it is so useful of you have just run out of a colour and you need just a little bit more to complete your project. I keep them all in a box in number order. I can't get on with bobbins.

[Angel]

I add DMC and Anchor to the pre-existing bobbins. I've never had much left over from other brands, but I'd probably start their own bobbin.

[Imme]

I do mainly Dimension kits so what I will do is put the threads, labelled by colours that I did when I first setup the project, the instructions, etc. into a plastic baggy. I have noticed that they will use the same colour codes for the same colour threads from kit to kit. So, if I run out of thread in one kit, I can still go back to old kits and see if I have spare thread in there for the same colour code.

[Armymom8485]

I know this is an old thread, but I am just now working my way through the forum.
I joined a group on facebook called ATCs and we exchange ATCs every month and the leftover floss is perfect to use on the cards.

[Like_Fine_VVine]

Hi Armymom...welcome to the forum! I've never worked with a kit before recently...and my first one, ackkkkk, was a mess of threads all looped together and not sorted. Some of the colors were so close together you couldn't possibly tell what color was what - but I bet I would have when I put it in the design, too bad it would have been too late by then lol! Soooo I ended up converting to DMC. I didn't throw away the thread from the kit, I kept it for something that wouldn't really matter...like gridding.... so I'm thrilled to see you found this thread and bumped it up! This gives me more ideas on what I can use it for; thanks .

[Armymom8485]

Thank you for the welcome Fine Wine I love that group and it is up to over 100 members already and since I work a lot of kits it was the perfect solution for the leftover thread. I also don't throw out my little snipits or any thread that is to short or frayed to work with. I collect it in a small tin and usually in early spring and throughout the summer I put tehm in my yeard for the birds to help them build their nests.

[Trylla]

I actually throw out the left over thread from kits. There's usually very little left and I don't want to bother making room to store it for a "maybe project" in the future.

[Ingahaim]

I use them for cards. Even if the numbers are on it, most off the time there is a difference in color.

[MaggieM1750]

The last kit I worked on was about a year ago. I had so much thread left over, I might have been able to stitch the chart again. I kept all my threads on the thread card they came on in a ziploc baggie and have used the threads when making up little things- cards and bookmarks where any green or blue will do.

[HalbertMusik]

I also keep my leftover threads. I either bundle them with the same number thread or I put them in a see-through zip-lock type baggie. This way the unidentified threads can be seen and picked out easily without making too much of a mess.

WD